Better Storytelling By Design

Drum of Feeble Flesh

Today, Paizo announces the 32 finalists for their RPG Superstar 2009 contest. The contest began with participants entering an original Wonderous Item that conformed to the Pathfinder RPG format and was no longer than 200 words long.

If you’ve been following me recently, you will know that I reviewed the “How Not to Make a Magic Item” chapter of Kobold’s Guide to Game Design II. While I had already submitted my item by the time I reviewed the chapter, I think I didn’t make most of the mistakes mentioned.

One mistake I made was not revisiting the numbers before I submitted the item, because I think they could use some work, and while this is an improved version of item I submitted I am still struggling over a few issues:

• I want the item available at a level low enough to where it is useful

• I don’t want the item too powerful for the previously mentioned level

• I’m not sure about which spells to use for the creation of the item

Drum of Feeble Flesh

This small drum is about 6 inches in diameter, 6 inches deep, and is framed with the rib cage of some diminutive figure. Leathery flesh has been drawn tight over the frame, providing a ghastly drumming surface. It can be played as a normal drum, but once per day the command word can be spoken and the drummer makes a DC 20 Perform (percussion instruments) check.

Success means it creates a pulse of negative energy that fills a 20-foot-cone. All living creatures caught in the cone become cursed for 1d4 rounds (a DC 16 Will save negates). The curse maximizes any damage variables they are subject to for the curse’s duration. The DC for the Will save to negate increases depending upon the result of the Perform check which is detailed below.

Check Result

Modifier

15

+1

20

+2

25

+3

30+

+4

Failure on the Perform check results in the drummer being affected by the equivalent of a ray of enfeeblement spell (caster level 10).